Birmingham

Travel Guide
Victoria Square featuring a square or plaza, flowers and heritage architecture

Birmingham Travel Guide Video

The second-largest city in the U.K. is known for its museums and shopping, canals, food and music.

Located in central England, Birmingham attracts visitors with its concert venues and shopping districts, art exhibitions, curry restaurants and chocolate factory. The city was at the heart of the industrial revolution in the 1700s and 1800s, with many advancements in technology and science developed in the city’s factories. Today, Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom. Getting around is made easy by an efficient public transport system of trains and buses. Explore the city’s canals – left over from the Industrial Revolution – by boat tour. Victoria Square is the focal point of the city many major attractions are within walking distance. Find Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Shop for high-end clothing at The Mailbox, and admire the 18th-century architecture of Birmingham Cathedral. Learn about the impact of the Industrial Revolution at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. There are interactive activities for younger visitors, including a giant hamster wheel and square-wheeled wagon. Go to the Jewellery Quarter, just west of the city center, to learn about a centuries-old industry and shop for handcrafted pieces. Head south of the center to find chains stores and independent boutiques at the Bullring Shopping Centre. Birmingham’s music scene comes to life during the summer months. Enjoy free concerts during the Birmingham Jazz Festival. Listen to orchestras and world-famous musicians at Symphony Hall, a venue that hosts hundreds of events throughout the year.Take time to explore around 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) of public green spaces. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the golf courses and boating lakes at Sutton Park, north of the city center. To the south, at Sarehole Mill, you can walk in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien. Both are a short train ride from the city center. Don’t miss out on Birmingham’s culinary scene, influenced by African, Caribbean, Chinese and Indian cultures. Visit the Curry Mile in the south of the city, so called for its large concentration of Indian restaurants, and get a chocolate hit during the tasting sessions at Cadbury World.

Where to stay in Birmingham

Bullring Shopping Centre

Birmingham City Centre

4/5(116 area reviews)

Known for its fantastic nightlife and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Birmingham City Centre. Check out top attractions like Birmingham Cathedral and Victoria Square, and jump on the metro at Grand Central Tram Stop or Corporation Street Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Birmingham City Centre
Default Image

Edgbaston

4.5/5(12 area reviews)

Visitors often come to Edgbaston for its abundant dining options, but many stay to explore sights like Hagley Road and Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Getting around the area on the metro is easy if you catch a ride at Edgbaston Village Station.

Edgbaston
Sat outside NEC Birmingham

Marston Green

Well-liked for its restaurants and museums, Marston Green is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like The Bear Grylls Adventure and Resorts World Arena, and jump on the metro at Air Rail Link Tram Stop to get around the city.

Marston Green
Ikon Gallery which includes a square or plaza, night scenes and a city

Westside

4/5(16 area reviews)

Known for its fantastic nightlife and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Westside. Check out top attractions like Broad Street and National SEA LIFE Centre, and jump on the metro at Five Ways Tram Stop or Brindley Place Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Westside
Coventry featuring night scenes

Coventry City Centre

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

Coventry City Centre is noteworthy for its museums, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Coventry Cathedral and Coventry Transport Museum.

Coventry City Centre
One of my favourite walks though the fields behind Coleshill church, heading down towards Maxstoke golf course.

Coleshill

Coleshill is well-liked for its restaurants. You can also take some time to explore sights in the surrounding area like Maxstoke Park Golf Club and The Bear Grylls Adventure.

Coleshill
Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham
Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham
4 out of 5
245 Broad Street, Birmingham, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is $99 per night from Nov 10 to Nov 11
$99
includes taxes & fees
$83 per night
Nov 10 - Nov 11
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,494 reviews)
"Great place to stay in Birmingham"

Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham
Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club
Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club
4 out of 5
Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, Birmingham, Solihull, England
The price is $94 per night from Nov 17 to Nov 18
$94
includes taxes & fees
$78 per night
Nov 17 - Nov 18
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Solihull. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,014 reviews)
"Place is good for family and friends get away for 1 night or 2. If you live golf, it’s a place to be. Facilities and cleanliness of the property is excellent."

Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club
Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - City Centre, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - City Centre, an IHG Hotel
3.5 out of 5
19 Holiday Street, Birmingham, England
Fully refundable
The price is $90 per night from Nov 10 to Nov 11
$90
includes taxes & fees
$75 per night
Nov 10 - Nov 11
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,108 reviews)
"Good hotel with nice breakfast. Bedroom as you would expect with the brand,decent towels and comfy beds and excellent wi-fi. TIP. Ask for a room on a lower floor as the hotel has at least 17 floors and lifts can get extremely busy. I would recommend this hotel in the price range."

Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - City Centre, an IHG Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City Centre
Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City Centre
4 out of 5
131 Digbeth, Birmingham, England
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,098 reviews)
"Only one night, close to train station and centre. Well connect also with bus lines. Clean, quiet and modern hotel with all the necessaries."

Reviewed on Oct 23, 2024

Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City Centre
Staycity Aparthotels, Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter
Staycity Aparthotels, Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter
3.5 out of 5
88 Charlotte Street, Birmingham, England
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (966 reviews)
"Very good"

Reviewed on Oct 21, 2024

Staycity Aparthotels, Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter
PREMIER SUITES Birmingham
PREMIER SUITES Birmingham
4 out of 5
Dean House 38 Upper Dean Street, Birmingham, England
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (306 reviews)
"Great place to stay, apartments were comfy and clean - would stay again"

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2024

PREMIER SUITES Birmingham
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Birmingham

If you’re staying in the city center of Birmingham, take advantage of the extensive pedestrianized zones and explore on foot – the best way to experience the city’s famous architecture up close. There is also an extensive bus network across the city, and local trains connect the city to the surrounding area. One trolley line, the Midland Metro, runs between the historic Jewellery Quarter and outlying towns. Visit the Transport for West Midlands website.Browse Birmingham rental cars.

Best time to visit

Birmingham has a temperate climate, with warm summers, cool winters and moderate rainfall throughout the year. To have the best chance of warm, sunny weather, you should visit between June and August, when average temperatures peak in the low 70s F (low 20s C). Spring and fall can variously be lovely and warm or rather cold, but prices are cheaper at this time of year. Winter is often gray, cold and wet.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Birmingham

4.1
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
42
" "5 - Excellent 27.814569536423843%
4 - Good
84
" "4 - Good 55.629139072847686%
3 - Okay
22
" "3 - Okay 14.56953642384106%
2 - Disappointing
1
" "2 - Disappointing 0.6622516556291391%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 1.3245033112582782%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Birmingham is a pleasant change from London. Worth a visit.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Very lively atmosphere. Great restaurants and plenty to do

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Loved the city!

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Nothing much to say about Birmingham, large multi-cultural city. Has its good points and its bad.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Very diverse, with great food. Easy to commute with old but interesting buildings . The people are very friendly and polite

4/5 - Good

Karen

Very sad to see how much rubbish, broken glass, graffiti, and homeless were on the streets. We haven’t been in Brum for 19 years and it has changed. BUT, it is still our cherished family city 

Cities near Birmingham